# I hate IE7's layout **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987 "2009-06-16T20:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/21 "2009-06-17T16:58:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Internet Explorer 7 is akin to Windows ME. Neither should have seen the light of day. This is 100% untrue. IE7 is much more secure than IE6 and renders webpages closer to standards. It has better handling of ActiveX, better defaults, better security, sandboxing in Vista, built in AA, safer FTP transactions, easier to roll out, better javascript performance, faster overall, better PNG support, SSLv2 disabled, etc etc etc. There’s no reason to ever use IE6 ever again and no compelling reason to use IE8 yet. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/22 "2009-06-17T17:50:18Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > It has been quite a bit more than two weeks and I still hate it. With IE6 you had more flexibilty in the layout. And As long as there is wasted space on my screen I will hate it. There is no point in having the menu take up the whole width of the screen. There’s no point in having it up at all unless you’re using it. Turn it off and hit the alt key when you want to use it. IE8 lets you move the refresh and stop buttons to the left corner. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/23 "2009-06-17T19:23:38Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Then if you now use IE7 and wish to return to using IE6, your choice is to save your data externally, reformat your hard drive, reinstall Windows and use IE6, because you cannot adequately revert from IE7 to IE6 any other way. He’s not wanting to return to using IE6. He wants to know if there is a way to get some of IE6’s appearance functionalities into IE7. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/24 "2009-06-17T19:49:23Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > He’s not wanting to return to using IE6. He wants to know if there is a way to get some of IE6’s appearance functionalities into IE7. My instructions in post #17 describe how to do so. Petek ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/25 "2009-06-17T20:02:47Z")
I know a few people who would have been very happy to see **Petek** ’s workaround - everyone I’ve spoken with who switched to IE7 dislikes the interface. Most of them upgraded because Windows told them to in urgent terms, so it’s not like they felt they had a choice in the matter. The **would** have been very happy, except that I’ve been steering every one of them to Firefox, and most of them have not looked back. The only concerns most people have had around rendering pages specifically designed for IE (hotmail, Microsoft’s sites, any intranet sites dependent on Active Directory) can be addressed with a plug-in called IE tab that renders using whatever version of IE is installed, but displays within the Firefox interface. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/26 "2009-06-17T20:52:27Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > No whats “incredible” is that people just like to complain and in general dont handle change well. I don’t particularly enjoy complaining, and I handled the change to Firefox pretty well. I find the IE7 interface ugly, awkward and counterintutive. I’m sure people like it, and they’re welcome to it. I don’t like it, but my complaints are not imaginary; here they are: Nothing can be moved around (there is a menu option ‘lock toolbars’, but unchecking it to unlock the toolbars does nothing useful - the only thing that can be moved is the toolbar with the home icon on it, and the only place it can be moved is off the edge of the screen) The browsing history is accessed by clicking a control that at times appears greyed out/disabled. There is no way to open the browsing history through the menu structure (as far as I can see) There are (to my eye) four or five different styles of buttons on the toolbars - the big round ones top left, the square ones top right, the web 2.0-style favourites star icons and the borderless icons for the home page, printing, etc. (the fifth style is evident only if you turn on the links toolbar). There was a choice, and they chose to make it look and behave like this. Incredible. I have no doubt that it’s a better browser than IE6 in terms of security and perhaps standards compliance, but it’s just uncomfortable to use - and I this discomfort, for me, doesn’t seem to wear off. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/27 "2009-06-17T23:19:58Z")
> [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](#): > > I know a few people who would have been very happy to see **Petek** ’s workaround - everyone I’ve spoken with who switched to IE7 dislikes the interface. Most of them upgraded because Windows told them to in urgent terms, so it’s not like they felt they had a choice in the matter. > [@Mangetout](#): > > I find the IE7 interface ugly, awkward and counterintutive. I’m sure people like it, and they’re welcome to it. I don’t like it, but my complaints are not imaginary; > > There was a choice, and they chose to make it look and behave like this. Incredible. > > I have no doubt that it’s a better browser than IE6 in terms of security and perhaps standards compliance, but it’s just uncomfortable to use - and I this discomfort, for me, doesn’t seem to wear off. I can only echo both of the quoted posts. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/28 "2009-06-18T00:14:51Z")
Also, there’s a browser called [Maxthon](http://www.maxthon.com/) thats little else but a skin for IE7 that looks more like the classic model. Personally, I think Firefox + IE tab is a winning combo. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/29 "2009-06-18T01:26:55Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > IE8 lets you move the refresh and stop buttons to the left corner. Sorry for the hijack, but can someone tell what what the Stop button is supposed to do? My guess is that when I go to a web page, but it is taking forever to load, I ought to be able to click Stop, and regain control of the browser. But that never happens. In fact, in my experience, the Stop button never does anything, and the times that I want to press it - it’s disabled. Does this make any sense? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/30 "2009-06-18T01:59:57Z")
> [@Petek](#): > > Yes. Go to your \WINDOWS\ie7\ directory, right-click on the iexplore.exe file, select Send To\>Desktop and you can now use this new shortcut to launch IE7 with the IE6 interface. However, you’ll lose the tabs feature. This does not work for me. (And I do not understand how it could possibly work.) ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/31 "2009-06-18T02:49:36Z")
It doesnt, I think it did once with a beta version. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/32 "2009-06-18T03:00:23Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > This does not work for me. (And I do not understand how it could possibly work.) Works for me. What happens when you follow the instructions in my prior post? Petek ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/33 "2009-06-18T03:05:18Z")
It just launches IE7. Just as I would expect. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/34 "2009-06-18T03:14:29Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > It just launches IE7. Just as I would expect. Yes, it lauches IE7, but with the IE6 interface. For example, on my system, no tabs are available. Also, the refresh and stop icons are on the top left, instead of the top right. What are you seeing? Have you perhaps upgraded to IE8? Petek ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/35 "2009-06-18T03:24:44Z")
No. It just launches IE7. I do not understand how it could do otherwise. Maybe there is a switch in the command line? ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/36 "2009-06-18T03:30:42Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > No. It just launches IE7. I do not understand how it could do otherwise. Maybe there is a switch in the command line? Well, if you look at the properties of the iexplore.exe file in the C:\WINDOWS\ie7 folder, you’ll see that it is version 6. Also, Google for “ie7 ie6 interface” (without the quotes) and you’ll see that I’m not just making this up! Petek ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/37 "2009-06-18T03:48:44Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > \>So people have different taste from you. Astonishing isn’t it. Incredible. > > No whats “incredible” is that people just like to complain and in general dont handle change well. When you’ve had an objective fault that wasn’t in the previous version pointed out to you three times and you are still saying “people just like to complain and don’t handle change well” the problem lies with you and not them. Are you in change management, by any chance? I ask because people in change management get so sick of general resistance to change that they come to view \*all \*resistance as unjustified. If a change manager met resistance to their proposal to chop off each employee’s dominant hand they’d just shut their ears and attribute the resistance to people “not handling change well”. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/38 "2009-06-18T03:54:51Z")
> [@Petek](#): > > Well, if you look at the properties of the iexplore.exe file in the C:\WINDOWS\ie7 folder, you’ll see that it is version 6. Also, Google for “ie7 ie6 interface” (without the quotes) and you’ll see that I’m not just making this up! Well, yes and no… On the one hand, when I go to the properties of that file (iexplore.exe), I see that it is dated April 13 2008, and the “File Version” is “6.0.2900.5512”. And when I execute that file, I am amazed to find what does look like IE6, especially regarding the menu and buttons. So far, so good. But when I go to “Help/About”, it claims to be “Version: 7.0.5730.13.xpsp\_sp3\_gdr.090206-1234”. Furthermore, when I go to the Favorites menu and select a site, a new window opens to bring me there, and it’s an IE7 window. Clicking on links within the window seems ok, as long as I don’t go to any of My Favorites. Curiously, when I run IE7 normally, “Help/About” claims to be Version 7.0.5730.13, which is the same as the beginning of what that other version showed. But the box has a whole different logo and layout. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/39 "2009-06-18T04:01:12Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > When you’ve had an objective fault that wasn’t in the previous version pointed out to you three times and you are still saying “people just like to complain and don’t handle change well” the problem lies with you and not them. Are you referring to the comments about how much screen space is wasted by the menu bar and button bar? If so, then I too agree that it is an awful waste which I wish I could reverse. But I disagree with your phrase “objective fault”. Other could argue that it was an artistic and esthetic decision, and that they feel the screen “looks better” this way. They might even concede that some space is indeed wasted, but they’d add that with larger screens becoming more common, this is an unimportant (to them) concern. Ultimately, neither you nor I like this design, but I don’t think we can claim it to be faulty or defective. ---
**Author:** ![Petek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/petek/32/1590_2.png) [@Petek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987/40 "2009-06-18T04:03:39Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Well, yes and no… > > On the one hand, when I go to the properties of that file (iexplore.exe), I see that it is dated April 13 2008, and the “File Version” is “6.0.2900.5512”. And when I execute that file, I am amazed to find what does look like IE6, especially regarding the menu and buttons. So far, so good. > > But when I go to “Help/About”, it claims to be “Version: 7.0.5730.13.xpsp\_sp3\_gdr.090206-1234”. Furthermore, when I go to the Favorites menu and select a site, a new window opens to bring me there, and it’s an IE7 window. > > Clicking on links within the window seems ok, as long as I don’t go to any of My Favorites. > > Curiously, when I run IE7 normally, “Help/About” claims to be Version 7.0.5730.13, which is the same as the beginning of what that other version showed. But the box has a whole different logo and layout. Yes, this exactly what I see. For some reason, the iexplore.exe, version 6, launches IE7, but with the IE6 interface. Petek [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-ie7s-layout/499987.md?page=3)